Italy Days 4 and 5

New Year's Eve was a day trip to Sirmione, a very nice resort on the tip of a peninsula on Lake Garda, the town has a castle and an amazing Roman remains of a villa covering several acres with a museum, lots of the structure is still intact so extremely interesting for anybody interested in that period.
Disappointing was that there were no local fireworks to watch but we had a six course dinner lasting until midnight and a good three piece group to make up for it and we did not have to go out in the freezing cold!
New Years day to ourselves, a lovely sunny day  with blue skies so went for a long walk along the coast and back - no buses running at all here today!

Day Trip to venice

An early start, leaving hotel at 8.00am for the 2 hour coach journey and the approach to Venice is not exactly exciting through the industrial areas with several oil refineries. We had a private boat to take us into Venice which was a good trip before having a two hour guided walking tour that finished by visiting St Mark's cathedral, stunning both outside and inside. The rest of afternoon was left to us so two of us had an excellent good value three course lunch in a restaurant in an alleyway that we had passed on the tour.
Weather was freezing in Venice and all were glad to meet for boat and get back on the warm coach.
A long but very interesting day.

Italy Day 2

Morning was free to get to see the new local area which is not very large but has a lovely setting on the edge of Lake Garda with old and new harbours full of boats of different sizes, ferries not running at this time of the year. High winds so lake was quite rough anyway and could not walk close to lake edge due to spray.
Afternoon was a coach trip to a small winery where we were told about the wine making process before being taken to the restaurant to try 3 wines and have some nibbles - very enjoyable!
Back at the hotel did miss the pool from the hotel in Innsbruck, not much to do before dinner.
Tomorrow is the big trip to Venice so a very early start for long coach journey.

Italy Day 1

An early start to catch train, snowing when we pulled out of Innsbruck but a lovely scenic journey to Verona with several very long tunnels through the mountains and once in Italy it was wine growing country with some snow around but often green, some sunshine as well.
A two hour guided tour of Verona was very interesting and the old City has lots of Roman and historical buildings including a huge Roman Arena, wish we had time to visit it. Of course the photo is the most famous house and balcony in the area - Juliet's balcony!
A short coach journey to Desenzano on Lake Garda where we are staying for five days, too late in evening after dinner to go and look around as it is Sunday
 and will be quiet.

Last Day in Austria

Freezing cold today!
I had done the railway trip that the group had organised on a previous holiday so I decided to go exploring on my own. Took a bus to Igls, a pleasant mountain village hoping to have a look around and walking around the countryside, the icy wind almost became a blizzard as it blew snow everywhere and into your face, not pleasant. Later found a tram which had a scenic route through the hills to another part of Innsbruck so I had a look around.
Back at hotel quite cold but after some time went to pool and sauna to relax until the group returned for a late dinner.
Early start in morning for the three and a half hour train journey to Verona, tomorrow evening we will be in Desenzano on Lake Garda in Italy.

The Old town of Innsbruck was very historic and most buildings several hundred years old, worth the visit for a few days.

Boxing day

A complete change in the weather, it has been snowing for most of the day which has changed the scenery completely and made lots of people very happy. Took a local mountain railway as far as it would go, some took the cable cars to the top but it was so misty it was obvious that there would be nothing to see, had a good lunch before coming back down to Innsbruck.
Rest of the day relaxing, by late evening most of the snow had gone from the city apart from by river which still looked good with all the trees covered.

Christmas Day

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY
Tried to snow for 10 minutes this morning then after a cloudy start it was the usual bright blue sky and very mild, rain in late afternoon.
I relaxing day with a tram/train journey with stunning scenery to a mountain village for lunch, tried to imagine all of this green countryside covered in thick snow, particularly when we saw the Olympic ski jump tower.
Back at the hotel spent a couple of hours relaxing by the indoor pool and spa - very nice.
Yet another good turkey meal for dinner, all this good food, I needed the swim!
Tomorrow is a day off from organised trips so we have a couple of ideas depending on weather.